Terry Goddard Testifies Before U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

(Phoenix, Ariz. – July 24, 2008) Attorney General Terry Goddard gave testimony today in Washington, D.C., at a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on “Crimes Associated with Polygamy: The Need for a Coordinated State and Federal Response.”

Goddard discussed the Attorney General’s Office’s work to combat abuse and fraud in the communities of Colorado City, Ariz. and Hildale, Utah, over the past five years. He also explained the need for increased federal involvement in the investigation and prosecution of polygamy-related crimes.

Other panelists at the hearing included Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada Gregory Brower, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Brett Tolman and former Fundamentalist Church of Latter-day Saints member Carolyn Jessop.

Goddard’s testimony is attached to this email. It is also available on the Attorney General’s Office Web site, www.azag.gov. Testimony from all of the panelists at today’s hearing is available on the Senate Judiciary Committee Web site, http://judiciary.senate.gov/.